Folding machine and method



Feb. 28, 1933. 1c, ROWEN 1,899,245

FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Original Filed Dec. 29, 1923 w 6 lnven tor 7 Thomas Canljon Rowen Patented Feb. 28, 11 933 T units-o s'rATss] 'rno vriis CARLTON nownlv, OF-SWAMPSCOTT, assaonnsnrrs, ASSIGNOIR; BY ASSIGNMENTS, T0 UNITED SHQE'MACEEINERY oonsonarromorzrs'rnnson; NEW JERSEY, A CORPOR-LIIGN or new anasnszf y v i I FoLnmG rsnoriinn A1115 7 METHOD i Application filed December'59,; Serial The present invention relates to folding methods and machines,tand more particularlyto' inethodsof and machines'for folding a binding strip around the edge of a boot or shoe upper to Whichit isattached. r i

According to the method describedin Letters Patent No. 1,589,718 to'Andrew Ridderstrom, granted June 22, 1926, the upper is advanced over a support with, ts marg n bent out of the plane'of the upper-upward, in

a direction away from the strip, andwith the unsecured portion ofthe strip'moved lightly across the secured-together,edges- The strip; is folded, step by step,'aroundthe secured-together edges, and the folded portions of the strip are successlvelypressed against the upstanding bent edge and the margin along the other, face oft-he sheet; A Wiper is illustrated for .Wipingthe strip across the secured-together edges prior to the folding and pressing operations, but it is found, in practice, that the Wiper plays little, 1f any,

. function, and may be eliminated Without perceptiblyfaifecting the character of the resulting product 7 r The machine of the above-mentioned Lettors Patent is moreparticularly designed for operationuponbinding strips that are constituted of comparativelyheavy or stiff material, like leather. When it is attempted to use a similar machine for the folding of binding strips constituted f of comparatively lighter or flimsier mater al, like, cloth, silk andthe like, it is found that, if the Wiperis dispensed with, the binding strip after folding, will be loose and baggy where it is sewed to the upper.

The reason for this different result Will be readily understood when it is considered that the stock is fed forward'in themachine by a' plow. WVhen the feed point comes down to clamp the stock against the feed block, therefore,- the leather strip is caused by the plow I The feed point is so desi ned as No. 683,435. ReneWedF ebruary '11, 1927.

to exert apulling actionlupon the edge of the upper, and it isthis pulling action, in fact,

that causes the edge of the upper to become made. of lighter and softer-material, it can not exert the above-described pulling action bent up; out of the plane. of the upper, as be- I fore'describedn I This action is, however, a; direct conse-- quence of the leather strip being so'compara-, tively heavy and stiff VVhen the -stripis upon the edge of the upper. Instead, when:v the feed point comes down to clamp the stock against the, feed block, H the strip becomes' buckled underneath the upper and becomes compressed, in buckled condition, against the under 'facejof the upper.- It is this action which baggy effect before described.

invention" .to provide an improved method and machine of the above described {characis beliovedto produce the loose andt is therefore an object of the present, I

ter that shall be adapted for operation upon binding strips of many different grades and materials. v ld iththis end in view, a feature ofthe invention resides in engaging the upper'and the strip at points Where they are sewed together, so as to prevent the strip becoming buckled underneath the upper when the feed point clamps the. stock against the feed block. I v

To the attain nent'of this and other ends, the invention consists ofthe improved method and machine hereinafter described, illus trated' in the accompanying drawing and defined in the appended claims.

The invention will be better understood by referring to a the accompanyingv drawing, in which Fi g. 1 is afperspective view of the, up-

per, forward part of a machine constructed I 1 as described in the above-identified Letters Patent and 'inLetters Patent No. 1,527,396 'toithe said Ridderstrom, granted February;

24, 1925, but modified in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away for clearness; Fig.2 1s a similar fragmentary plan view, illustratlngthe' operat on of the machine shown in Fig.1, Fig, 3 is a: similar .like, around the edge 4 of a sheet of leather or other material 6, such as a boot or shoe upper. 'An edge 8 of the binding strip is sewed to a face 10 of the shoe upper, along the edge 4, so that the sheet and the strip ex- "tend at an angle to each other from the secured-together edges 4 and 8. It will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to, other articlesthan that which is herein chosen for purposes of illustration, that the binding strip may beconstituted of other materials, including leather, and that the elements of the article need not necessarily be of the relative dimensions shown. I As in the machine of the above-described Letters Patent, the shoe upper 6 is initially placed upon a platform or support 24, with the face 10 of the upper in contact with the support. The free edge 26 of the strip 2 is I initially moved lightly across and around the secured-together edges 4 and 8, into the space between'an interior side face 28 of a feed point 30 and a plow 32 that stands up integrally from a plate 34 by which it is carried. The machine being set into operation, the upper is fed forward over the support 24, step by step, by a feed point 30 and a cooperating feed block41. Duringthe feeding, successive portions of the margin of the sheet, along the edge 4, are bent a little out of the plane of the sheet upward, or in a direction away from the strip, by a projection 38 that is shown standing up integrally from the feed block 41. As the sheet is fed forward, with its margin and the binding strip in this successively bent condition, successive portions of the strip 2 are initially intermittently folded around the secured-together edges 4 and 8 by the plow. The folded portions are then advanced by the feed point and the feed block to a fold presser 42, which presses down the initially formed folds against the bent-up edge 4 and against the margin of the sheet, along the face 16, as is shown in Fig. 7. These operations are continued in timed relation to each other until the whole strip has become folded The projection 38 rises gradually from thefeed block at 39, and is provided with a more 'or less sharp edge 37 that engages the strip'2 and the sheet 6 at substantially the points "where the strip is attached to the leather sheet, within the angle between the sheet and the strip. The feed point is provided with a similar gradually rising part 35 that is adapted to cooperate with the gradually rising part 39 of the feed block to clamp the margin of the sheet 6, near the edge 4, in' bent-up position, as before described. The remainder 31 of the active portion of the feed point is provided with gripping teeth to cooperate with the feed block 41 to clamp the portion of the sheet near the bentup margin, and to feed the sheet 6 and the strip 2 forward over the support 24. When the feed point 30 comes down towards the feed block 41, therefore, the portion 35 of the feed point bends the margin of the sheet near the edge 4 against the portion 39 of the projection 38 and, in so doing, forces the edge 37 of the projection 38 to bite firmly into the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges, as illustrated in Fig. 6. This prevents the strip 2 from becoming buckled under the sheet 6, where it, would become compressed, in buckled condition, and held in buckled condition by the cement that is usually ap-' plied to maintain the strip folded against the face 16 of the sheet 6. Not only does the edge 37 prevent this buckling, however, but it actually produces, to a considerable degree, in connection with the movement of the feed point 30, the effect that is produced in the above-identified Letters Patent by the wiper. The projection 38 may, therefore, be termed a Wiper. The broader term projection will, however, be used in the specification and the claims because of the above-described function that it performs, and for which it is more particularly designed, of preventing the strip 2 from becoming buckled under the sheet 6.

Before leaving this part of the description, however, it should be noted that the feed point 30 is spring pressed downward towards the feed block by a spring 112, and is more full described in the said Letters Patent No. 1,527,396, to the said Ridderstrom. The feed point 30, in addition to its feeding function, thus cooperates with the projection 38 in a manner somewhat analogous to the cooperation of the wiper and the retainer of the aforementioned. Letters Patent. By reason of the fact that the feed point is intermittently raised and lowered, as is fully described in the said Letters Patent, the stock being advanced, step by step, between the lowering and the raising movements, the edge 37 of the projection 38 is caused to act intermittently, at spaced or separated portions only of the secured-together portions of the sheet and the strip. The cycle of operations is repeated many times a minute,.the stock being fed forward a step at each cycle. As the steps of the feed are very short, however, the effect is practically the same as though the action were continuous.

Reference is made to the aforesaid Letters Patent for further details of construction, in-

cluding a description of the manner in which the feed block 41 and the'feed point 30 are reciprocated towards and from the fold presser 12. It' is not necessary to an understanding ,of the presentinvention to describe these details here, particularly as theinven- 'tion may be carried out with machines that do not embody these-details of construction. It is sufficient,for an understanding of the present invention, to state that during the backward movement of the feed block and the feed'point from the fold presser 42,-inth'e direction of the arrow of Fig.2, the feed point first rises and then, 'towards the end of the backward mvement,it descends again. It

is during this backward movement that the plow folds the strip 2 aroundthe securedtogether edges; andit is duringthe final period of the backward movement, when the 7 feed point descends, that the above-described operation of the projection 38' takes place, preventing the strips from becoming compressed against] theunder-face 10 of the sheet 6.

3 'As is described in the above-mentioned Letters Patent, the plow32 acts also as a gage.

I The plow of thepresent application is considerably hollowed out at 33 to enable it to re: ceive the portion of'the-strip 2 that is adjacent to the secured-together edges, as is illustrated in Fig. 6. The comparatively large hollowed-out portion.33 would tend to interfere withthe gaging action of the plow 32- This introduces no difficulty inthe present machine, however, because the projection 38 necessarily acts also as a gage'or guide.

In order to prevent the wiper and the plow of the machines disclosed in the aforesaid Letters Patent from causing the initiallyfolded strip to contact with theedges land 8, thereby preventing the folded strip from, being construction of the plow, together withthe fact that, the margin of the sheet is bent up- The separator 143 may therefore probably-be I ward, make it less likely that the folded strip will stick prematurely to the secured-together edges, before it has been properly folded over.

dispensed with, though illustrated in the drawing. I a r The upper is advanced by the feed elements and the plow to a diagonally ofi'set edge 144 of the fold presser 42, under which edge the initially plow-folded strip is positioned and by which it is pinched at the very fold against the upstanding bent edge 4. The pinched fold is later, after the next feed movement,

pressedinto even contact with the margin of the upper, along the face 16.; The exterior "surface of the fold presser iseylindrical, as shown at 156,.so asto rock within a cylindrical bearing 158-provided' at the free end off an arm 160. The'curvilin'ear working face 64 'of the fold presser descends with a rolling action Y upon the strip. The previously pinchedfold, after-it is'advan'ced,on the next feed movement, under the cylindrical face 164, is thus pressed out or rolled over,:from

the pinched portion outward towards the free edge 26 of the strip 2. The fold presser is spring-pressed towards the support 24 by a 168 extending through anopening (not shown in the arm 160 and screw-threaded'into the frame. By means of the screw threads, the pressure of the spring-upon the arm 160 may be-adjusted, thee'nds of the spring beingcOnfined between the arm and a knurled head 170 compression spring 166 mounted upon "a, rod

upon the rodl68; 'The working face 1640f the fold presser maybe providedwith teeth or may be otherwise roughened, to enable it to secure a firm grip upon the strip at thickened places, such as seams, thereby overcoming the tendency which the fold presser would otherwise have to push the stock away instead of ironing it out. i

In the'before-mentioned Letters Patent No.

1,589,? 18, the pressure exerted by the fold pressercauses the bent-up edge 4 of the sheet to become compressed or crushed between the strip .2 and neighboring portions of the leath I er. This crushing action causes the strip 2 to be pulledtightly away from the upper 6 at the stitches 233 within the angle betwee the sheet and the strip. It is for this reason that the use of a wiper is really unnecessaryin the machine of the said Letters Patent No.

"1,589,718, sincethe tight pulling away of the strip 2 at the stitches 233 may be effected by "the fold presser if the stock is properly presented thereto,'as above described.

coo

According to the machine of the present in-: Y vention, the same tight pulling away ofvrthe strip2 at the stitches 233 and the same crush ing' action, maybe efie'ctedin the same way. It is preferred, however, toprovidethe fold presser 4:2 with a recess 29 in the face 64, just baCkofiandcutting into, the offset edge 144,

as is illustratedmore particularlyin Fig, The'upstanding bent edged and the strip 2 foldedthereagainst are'adapted to be received in therecess 29 during the pinching and rollingaction of the fold presser before described, without destroying the tight, pulling of the strip away from the upper 6 at the stitches 233. If thestrip 2 were constituted of heavy leather, the resulting upstanding portion of i the folded strip, alongthe edge, might be obj ectionable, because comparatively large.

Using strips made of lighter material, the; bunehing along the folded edge is not so no ticeable. [The bunchingris shown exagger' ated,'for clearness, in Fig.7. This method of operation produces less strain upon the stock. The fold presser need not "necessarily have a curved face 164, but a flat recessed face will operate as well. i

A toothed retainer point 246 is shown carried by a retainer 153 for holding the stock against the support 245 to prevent the stock being pushed outward away from the operating instrumentalities of the machine and for holding the stock firmly against accidental movement during the return movement of the feed elements. The retainer point need not necessarily be positioned as in the machines of the above-identified Letters Patent, and as is illustrated herein, at the rear of the plow 32. In fact, it is, for some purposes, advantageous to position the retainer point 246 forward and to one side of the position shown, 'so as to enable the operator to hold the fingers closer to the other operating instrumentalities of the machine,

The description of many portions of the machine an understanding of which is not essential to an understanding of the present invention has purposely been omitted, and many parts of the machine have purposely not been illustrated, in order not to distract the attention from the features of essential V novelty. Fuller explanation of such portions in other machines, and in machines of other types, and that modifications may be made therein by persons skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said method comprising bending the margin ofthe sheet, along the said edge, out of the plane of the sheet in 1 direction away from the strip, engaging with a member the bent portion of the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges within the angle between the sheet and the strip, engaging with a member the margin of the sheet near the said edge along the other face of the sheet, applying pressure to one of the members to cause the first-named member to bite into the sheet and the strip at the securedtogether edges, folding the unsecured portion of the strip around the secured-together edges, and pressing the folded portion of the strip against the said bent edge and the margin along the said other face of the sheet.

2. The method of folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that thesheet and the strip extend from thesecured-together edges atan angle to each other, the sa d method comprising bending succcssiveport ons of 'the margin of the sheet, along the said edge, out of the lane of the sheet 1n a direction away from t e strip, engaging with the edge of an edged member the successively bent portions of the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges within the angle between the sheet and the strip, engaging with a memher, the margin of the sheet near the said edge along the other face of the sheet, pressing upon the second-named member to cause the first-named memberto bite into the said successively engaged portions of the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges, folding the successive portions of the unsecured portion of the strip around the securedtogether edges, and pressing the successively folded portions of the strip against the said bent edge and the margin along the said other face of the sheet.

3. The method offolding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material toone face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said method comprising engaging successive portions of the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges Within the angle between the sheet and the strip, and bending the portions of the margin adjacent to the said successive portions of the sheet, along the said edge, out of the plane of the sheet in a direction away from the strip, feeding the sheet and the strip, gaging the sheet and the strip along the engaged portions of the sheet and the strip, pressing upon theisaid portions of the margins to cause the said engaged portions to engage more tightly, folding the successive portions of the unsecured portion of the strip around the secured-together edges, and press ing the successively folded portions of the strip against the said bent edge and the margin along the said other face of the sheet.

4. The method of folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured together edges at an angle toeach other, the said method comprising feeding the sheet and the strip step by step, bending successive portions of the margin of the sheet, along the said edge, out of-the plane of the sheet in a direction away from the strip when the sheet and the strip are fed to a predetermined position in the path of feed, intermittently engaging with amember the successively bent portions of the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges within the angle between the sheet and the strip, intermittently engaging with a member the portions of the margin of the sheet near the said edge along the other face of the sheet, intermittently applying pressure toone of the members to cause the firstnamed member to bite intermittently into the said, successively engaged portions of the,

sheet; and the strip at the secured-together edges, folding-successive portions of the unsecured portion of the strip around the se cured-togetheredges, and pressing the successively foldedportions of the strin against the said bent edge and the margin along the said other face of the sheet.

I 5. The method of folding. a strip around the edge of asheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, anedge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said methodcomprising bendingtheinargin of the sheet," along the said edge, out ofthe plane of the e sheet ,in a direction away from thestrip,

clamping the bent portion of the sheet to hold. it in bent position, engagingthe bent portion of the sheetand the strip at the secured-together edges within the angle between the sheet and the strip, folding the un-.

strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said methodcom prising bending successive portions of the.

.margin, along the said edge, out of the plane of the sheet in a direction away from the strip, successivelyclamping the successively V bent portions and adjacent portions of the the edge of a sheet of material to sheet and feedingthe sheet'and the strip forward, engaging the successively bent :p0r-

stions of the-sheet andthe'strip at thesecured-together edges within the angle between; the sheet and the strip, foldingsuccessive portions of the unsecured portion of the strip-around the securedstogether edges, and pressing the successively folded portions. of

the strip against the bent edge and the, mar-' gin along the other face of the sheet. I

7. A' machine for. folding a strip around which, along thesaid edge,-anedge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, means forbending the margin of the sheet, along the said edge, out of the plane of the sheet in a, direction away from the strip, a member for engaging the bent portion of the sheet and the strip at the, secured-together edges within the angle between the sheet and the strip, a'member for engaging the margin of thesheet near the said edge, along the other face of the sheet,means for applying pressure to one of :the members to cause-the first-named member s 8. A' machine oneface of to bite into the sheet andthe strip atthe seing the unsecured portion of the strip around the secured-together edges-and for pressing the folded portion of the strip against the saidedge and the margin along the said other face of the sheet. I i I, p

for folding I a strip around cured-together edges, and means for foldthe edge or .asheet of material to-one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and thestrlp extend from the secured-together edges at an'angle toeachother, the said machine'hav 111g, incomblnation, means forofeeding the neet with the margin ofthe sheet,,along' the said edge, bent out of the plane of the sheet 111 a direction away from the strip andjwith,

the unsecured portion of the strip moved across the secured-together edges, the feed-- 111g means, comprising two members, one for engagingthe bent. portion of the sheet and "the stri'pat the secured-together edges fwith+ in the angle between tnesneet and the strip,

andthe other for engaging the. margin of the sheet near the said edge along the other face of the sheet, meansfor moving the memhers towards each other to grip thestock andto cause the first-named member to bite into the sheet and thestrip at thesecuredtogether edges, means for folding thestrip around the secured-together edges, and means for pressing the folded strip against the bent edge and the margin along the said other face of the. sheet:

9. 'machine for folding astrip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of" which, along the said edge, an edge of' th'e strip is secured so that the sheet and thestrip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle toeach other, the said machine having,

in combination, means for feedingthe sheet 7 with the margin of :the sheet, along the said edge, bent out of the plane of the sheet in. a

direction away from the strip. and :with the :unsecured portion of thestrip moved acrossthe secured-together edges, a member for engaging the bent portion of the sheet and the feedingmeans comprising a memberfor engaging the margin of the sheetnear the said edge along the other face of the sheet, means for moving the members towards each other to cause the first-named member to bite into the sheet and the strip at the secured-together.

edges, means for folding the strip around the secured together edges, and means for pressing the folded strip against the bent edge and the margin along the said other face of the sheet. h I o I 10. A machine for foldinga strip around the edge of a sheet ofmaterial to one face of. which, along'the' saidjedge, a-nedgeqof the strip'is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at strip at the secured-together edges within the angle between the sheet and the strip, the r the edge of a sheet of material to one face the secured-together edges withinthe angle between the sheet and the strip, the feed point being shaped to cooperate with the feed block .to clamp the bent margin againstthe feed block and to cause the projection to bite into the sheet and the strip at the securedtogether edges, a plow for folding the strip around the secured-together edges, and a fold presser for pressing the folded stripagainst thebent edge and the margin along theother faceof the sheet.

11. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to onefacejof which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so'that'the sheet and the strip extend from the-secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the'said machine having, in combination, a feed block and'a feed point for feeding the sheet'and the strip stepby step, a member for bending the margin of the sheet, along the said edge, out of the plane of the sheet, in a direction away from the strip, and for engaging thebent portion of the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges within the angle between the sheet and the strip, means for mov ing the feed point towards the feedblock to clamp the sheet against the feed block and for moving the feedpoint from the feed block to release the sheet, whereby the strip issep- 'arated from the sheet by the member when the feed point clamps the sheet against the feed block, and means for folding the strip around the secured-together, edges and pressing the strip intocontact with the other face of the shee. i I

12. A machine for folding a strip around of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each'other, the said machine having, in combination, a feed block and a feed point for feeding the sheet and the strip step by step, the feed point and the feed block having portions for clamping portions of the sheet to one side of the edge of the sheet in the plane of the sheet, and having portions for bending the margin of the sheet along the said edge out I of the plane of the sheet in a direction away from the strip and for clamping the bent portions in bent position, means for moving the feed point towards the feed block to clamp the sheet against the feed block, and for moving the feed point from the feed block to release the sheet, means for engaging the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges within the angle between the sheet and the strip when the feed point is moved towards the feed block, and means for folding the strip around the secured-together edges and for pressing the strip against the bent-up edge and the other face of the sheet.

andthe strip with the margin of the sheet,

along the said edge, bent out of the plane of the sheet in a direction away from the strip and with the unsecured portion of the strip moved across the secured-together edges, a plow for folding the strip around the secured together edges, and a fold presser for pressing the folded strip against the bent edge and the margin along the other face of the sheet, the fold presser having a recess for receiving the bent edge of the sheet and the strip folded thereagainst.

14. Amachine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the'strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, means'for feeding the sheet and the strip with the margin of the sheet, along the said edge, bent out of the plane of the sheet in a direction away from the strip and with the unsecured portion of the strip moved across the securedtogether edges, a member for engaging the bent portion of the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges within the angle between the sheet and the strip, a plow for foldin the strip around the secured-together edges having a hollowed-out portion for receiving the portionof the strip adjacent to the secured-together edges, and a fold'presser for pressing the folded strip against the bent edge and the margin along the other face of the sheet, the fold presser having a recess for receiving the bent edge of the sheet and the strip folded thereagainst.

15. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, means for feeding the sheet and the strip comprising a member for bending the margin of the sheet, along the said edge, out of the plane of the sheet in a direction away from the strip and for engaging the sheet and the strip at the secured-together edges, the said member having means for folding the strip around the secured-together edges.

16. A machine for foldingastrip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of i the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle toeach other, the said machine having, in combination, means for feeding the sheet and the strip comprising a memberefor bending the margin of the sheet,

along the said edge, out of the plane offthe sheet in'a direction away fromthestrip and for engaging the sheet and. the strip at the secured-together edges, the said member con- 7 stituting a gage and having means for folding the strip around the secured-together edges, and means for pressing ,the folded strip against the bent-up edge and the other face of the sheet. v 7

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of December, 1923.

TI[OMAS CARLTON BOWEN. 

